Your temperature gauge is climbing higher than normal. Maybe there’s steam creeping out from under the hood. Or your engine suddenly feels sluggish and smells like something’s burning. If any of that sounds familiar, your car is overheating—and it’s not something you want to brush off.
We’ve seen everything from minor coolant leaks to full engine blowouts that started with an overheating problem. It’s one of those issues that can go from inconvenient to expensive real fast.
If your car’s running hot, don’t wait. Call Old Ox Tire & Auto at one of our four locations: Sterling (703-956-9811), Arlington (703-534-4222), Alexandria (703-888-2654), or Washington, DC (202-481-0685).
Why Do Cars Overheat?
When a car overheats, it’s usually because something in the cooling system isn’t working right. That system includes your radiator, thermostat, water pump, fans, coolant, and the hoses connecting everything.
If one part fails—say, your radiator fan stops spinning, or your thermostat gets stuck shut—coolant stops flowing the way it should. That means heat gets trapped inside your engine, and the temperature climbs until your car can’t handle it.
Even something as simple as a coolant leak from a loose hose or cracked reservoir can start the whole process. Low coolant levels mean the system can’t do its job, and that’s when things heat up—literally.
What NOT to Do When Your Car Overheats
We get it—if you see steam or smell something hot, your first instinct might be to pop the hood and take a look. But here’s the thing: opening the hood too soon is a bad idea.
Here are a few things you should avoid:
Don’t stick your face over the radiator or under the hood if you see steam. That’s not fog—it’s hot, pressurized coolant vapor that can burn you instantly.
Don’t open the radiator cap while the engine is hot. We can’t stress this enough. The coolant is under pressure, and opening the cap can cause boiling fluid to spray out—again, not something you want to be near.
Don’t keep driving. If the temp gauge is in the red or there’s steam, shut the car off. Every minute you keep going risks major engine damage, like a cracked head or blown gasket.
What You Should Do
Pull over somewhere safe. Turn off the engine. Let it cool down for at least 15–30 minutes before you even think about checking anything under the hood. If you’ve got roadside assistance, now’s the time to use it.
Once it’s cool, you can check your coolant level—but only if you know where the overflow reservoir is and how to do it safely. Otherwise, it’s best to have the car towed or brought to a shop.
Can I Prevent This from Happening Again?
Yes, absolutely. Most overheating issues are preventable with regular maintenance. Here’s what we check when a customer comes in with overheating problems:
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Coolant level and condition
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Radiator condition and airflow
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Thermostat function
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Water pump performance
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Hose leaks or bulges
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Radiator fan operation
A quick cooling system inspection can catch small problems before they turn into big ones. If it’s been a while since your last checkup—or you’ve noticed your temp gauge creeping up lately—it’s worth coming in.
Stay Cool. Let’s Check It Out.
An overheating engine isn’t something to gamble with. It can go from mild to catastrophic in just a few miles. If your car’s running hot or has overheated recently, let us take a look. We’ll figure out what’s going on and get you back on the road without risking your engine.
Old Ox Tire & Auto serves drivers across Northern Virginia and DC with expert diagnostics, repairs, and honest service.
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Think your engine’s overheating? Schedule a cooling system inspection now. We’ll help you fix it before it turns into something major.
